Rack.



PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905.

G. BERNHARD.

RACK.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 6. 1904. RENEWED JAN. 27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORIVE PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. 0. BERNHARD.

RACK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1904. RENEWED JAN. 27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/TIVESSES:

lillo. "783,853.

niiris mamas CHRISTIAN" BERNHARD, OF

Jratented Februar 28, 19b5,

CANAL DOVER, OHIO.

HAHN

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,853, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed April 6, 1904. Renewed January 27,1905, Serial No. 242.890.

T0 (Ll/1 whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that l, CHRISTIAN BERNHARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of (,lanal Dover, in the county of Tuscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and limproved Rack, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

M y invention relates to racks, and more particularly to those adapted for the drying of clothes and like domestic purposes.

it has for its principal object the provision of such a device which may be folded into compact form; and it consists in the various features hereinafter described and claimed.

teference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention set up ready for use. Fig. 2 shows the same folded for storage. Fig. 3 represents an intermediate pose tion in preparing the rack for folding, and Fig. 4 18 an end elevation of the rack 1n the position shown in Fig. l.

I of the pivotal point of each frame the crossbars are mounted upon the opposite sides of the longitudinal members. {In the plane of the pivot there is provided but a single crossbar at each side of the intermediate pair of longitudinal bars, these being at opposite sides of the two frames. Above and below the pivot each frame is furnished with pairs of alined erossbars, these being SllpGlllIlPOSGCl at the central bar and connected by a single pivot or hinge member. At the ends the frames are connected by chains 14 or the like, extending between the longitudinal bars and serving to linnt the range of angular movement.

When the frames are closed together upon the pivots 11, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the longitudinal bars then being parallel to one another, the outer pairs of these bars may be folded down into contact with the intermediate pair, as is particularly illustrated in Fig. 2, this bringing the cross-bars as well into a position of substantial parallelism with the longitudinal bars. in this form the rack occupies but little space, so that when not in use it may be set away in a corner.

hen it is desired to set up the rack, the cross-bars are turned up upon the central lougitudinal bars to bring them into a position. substantially at right angles thereto, and the movement in this direction i'nay be limited by a retaining member 1t, here shown as consisting of a rod 15 of wire or the like. One of these retaining members is pivoted at 16 at each side of the central bars and is bent at its opposite end to pass over one side of the cross-bar, here shown as the upper, where it engages with a notch 17, formed therein and having a substantially vertical wall at its inner side. From this point the retaining member is bent down and beneath the cross-bar at 18 to form an elongated loop and then up at the opposite side at 19. The upper side of the loop by its engagement with the vertical wall of the notch limits the outward movement of the cross-bar, and the under side contacting with the bar prevents the disengagement oftherctaining member therefrom. ln folding up the rack the loop rides up the inclined face of the notch, the elongation of the loop furnishing ample space for the movement of the cross-bar and in no wise interferes with the folding operation.

It will be seen that my improved rack, while presenting all the advantages of the ordinary clothes-horse and without sacrificing lightness of construction, may be readily folded into a small compass for storage and is quickly set up for use.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent--- The combination with pairs of longitudinal pivoted bars, of cross-bars hinged to the longitudinal bars, one of said cross-bars being provided with a depression, and a retaining member pivoted to a longitudinal bar and having an elongated loop which may cooperate with the depression and With the opposite side of the cross-bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

CHRISTIAN BERN HARD.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. JURGENS, LOUIS H. GEIB. 

